Donald McCormack, MD

Dr. Donald McCormack is originally from Ames, Iowa, and joined Boulder Medical Center in 1993. As an ophthalmologist, Dr. McCormack specializes in comprehensive eye and vision care.

Ophthalmologists differ from optometrists and opticians in their training and the conditions they can diagnose and treat. As a medical doctor who has completed college and nine years of additional medical training, Dr. McCormack is licensed to practice both clinical medicine and surgery. He diagnoses and treats eye diseases, prescribes eyeglasses and contact lenses to correct vision problems, and performs a wide range of clinical procedures and eye surgeries. For more than 20 years, Dr. McCormack has also been involved in scientific research on new treatments for glaucoma and dry eye disease.

Dr. McCormack’s interest in medicine flourished early when he occasionally visited patients with his pediatrician father during high school. “My dad loved his job as a physician, so that made an impression on me,” he says. “I liked science in school and was intrigued that the things I learned could be applied to medicine. I’ve also always been detail-oriented and good with my hands. Becoming a doctor was a natural choice for me.”

As an ophthalmologist who treats patients of all ages and walks of life, Dr. McCormack enjoys connecting with all types of people. “I diagnose and treat newborns to older adults for a wide range of eye conditions and diseases,” he says.

After more than 30 years practicing ophthalmology, Dr. McCormack is still fascinated by the human optical system. “The eye itself is impressive because many layers are transparent and I can often actually see what’s causing the problem for a patient,” he explains. “The eye can also offer clues about conditions that affect other parts of the body.”

In addition to revealing eye conditions and diseases, a careful eye exam may reveal signs associated with diabetes, high blood pressure, certain rheumatologic and neurologic conditions, and other health concerns. “Because the eye is the only place where we can directly visualize blood vessels and nerves, we can often see how the optical system is affected in various ways by certain systemic diseases,” he explains.

Beyond the clinical aspects of ophthalmology, Dr. McCormack also considers it a visually beautiful field of medicine. “The retina is bright orange with a weave of red arterioles and dark red veins running across it. Some cataracts look like they have holiday lights inside them, and certain conditions of the iris look like glowing spokes under the microscope.”

As Dr. McCormack continues a family tradition of providing personalized, thorough care, he is grateful for the opportunity to follow his lifelong passion for science and medicine while caring for people. “I consider it an honor to be trusted with the care of my patients’ eyes and a great responsibility to provide the best care I can.”

Dr. McCormack and his wife, Alison, have three children. An oboist since age 10, he often plays at church services, receptions, and weddings. He also enjoys sailing, hiking, skiing, and refinishing furniture.